Durant, who averaged 28.1 points per game, would have needed a 70-point effort to pass Carmelo Anthony (28.7 ppg) and become the first player to lead the NBA in scoring four consecutive seasons since Michael Jordan did so in the height of his prime.

Durant entered April as the league leader in scoring—that is, until Anthony’s late-season push, during which he averaged 36.9 points per game, eclipsing 40 points on three occasions.

Anthony scored below 30 points once in the month, a 25-point effort against the Indiana Pacers in which he didn’t play the fourth quarter. He also sat out the New York Knicks’ Monday road game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Durant averaged 26.1 points in April, but also put up far fewer attempts than Anthony. Whereas Durant took 15.9 shots per game in the month, Anthony hoisted 26.5 attempts. The Thunder's success also played a part in Durant's fall. Durant sat out 14 fourth quarters, taking away his NBA-leading average of 8.4 points in the fourth, The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry points out.

Durant and Anthony’s race for the scoring title is one of the closer finishes in recent years (See David Robinson-Shaquille O'Neal in 1994). The hope among most basketball followers was that the final night of the regular season would end in a duel.

Down to the last day of the season, Gervin owned the lead at 26.8 and Thompson followed with 26.6 points per game.

Both players gunned for the title on the final day, with Thompson scoring 73 points and Gervin posting 63 points, just enough to maintain his lead and win the scoring title. Gervin finished the season with an average of 27.22 points per game, and Thompson closed out at 27.15.

Durant has seceded from the scoring title race to focus on the NBA Playoffs, which begins in full force on Saturday. Competing down to the last day didn't hurt Gervin or Thompson. Both would lead their team to the Conference finals.